Alysa Liu didn’t play it safe on July 16.
The Olympic gold medalist walked into the TIME100 Sports Gala and completely changed her aesthetic. She arrived in a look that is equal parts daring and deeply gothic. It wasn’t the sparkly, wholesome figure we saw on the ice. It was shadow, lace, and sharp angles.
Who designed Alysa Liu’s black goth gown?
She wore a corseted, form-fitting dress from Nicholas Oakwell Couture. The piece was heavy on the lace, black in tone, and cut to emphasize her silhouette. It screams high-fashion intensity.
To pull the look together, stylist Katie Qian layered in Pandora jewels. The contrast of the delicate metals against the dark fabric works. Liu’s beauty team followed suit. Kevin Cheah handled makeup, leaning into a soft, peachy palette that didn’t overpower the outfit. Sky Kim transformed Liu’s iconic streaked hair into an intricate braided updo. Then Maki Sakamoto matched her nails to the dress in solid black.
Why shift styles so radically?
Liu has answered that before. In an interview with Elle, she broke down the logic behind the change. It wasn’t about following a trend. It was about returning to herself.
“My style is very eclectic! … I know what like and what makes me fel good, but because I’mevolving, it’fun to leave room for unexpected.”
That evolution is visible here. Louis Vuitton ambassadors often get typecast into certain luxury molds. Liu rejects that box. She leaves space for the unknown parts of her personality. This outfit is that discovery phase made physical.
Does this outfit reflect a bigger shift in Liu’s style?
This is arguably her most gothic glam moment yet. It fits a larger narrative. Recently, Liu won Olympic gold while advocating for young athletes to prioritize happiness over pressure. Her fashion choices are mirroring that autonomy. She decides what looks good. She decides who she wants to be on that red carpet.
The look is striking because it subverts expectations. Figure skating is bright, glossy, and pristine. Liu showed up in noir-inspired couture. It suggests a maturity in how she presents her image to the public.
So is this just a one-off stunt?
Unlikely. She admitted her style is evolving naturally as she gets older. That evolution is rarely linear. Sometimes it means pastel sweaters. Sometimes it means Nicholas Oakwell corsets. The common thread isn’t the color. It’s the confidence to switch
